Meaford council at its regular meeting supported an initiative to make the Museum building fully accessible.

Council passed a resolution to support a Museum Board application to the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund.

Councillor Harley Greenfield said the renovation/addition at the Meaford Museum is virtually complete, but said the building lacks an appropriate entrance that is accessible for all. Currently the Museum uses the glass doors at one end of the building as an entrance.

Those doors were installed in an expansion several years ago to accommodate the old Maple Leaf fire truck.

“We need a new entrance,” said Greenfield. “We want to put a small vestibule at the south end of the building with a ramp,” he said.

The Museum Board is applying to the federal fund for $36,000 for the project. The Board has also made an application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation in an effort to secure funding for the project from that agency as well.

“We’re trying to hit as many areas as we can looking for grant money for this project,” said Greenfield. “We’re knocking on every door we can,” he said.

The federal government set up the Enabling Accessibility Fund in 2007. It is a $45-million grant program to help with renovations to public buildings to make them more accessible.

Councillor Lynda Stephens asked Greenfield if the grant application carried any cost for the municipality. Greenfield said there is no cost for the application other than staff time to prepare the documents.

All members of council supported the grant application. Councillor Cynthia Lemon said in the future the municipality needs a list of priorities for such grant applications. Lemon said it is important for council to be aware of the municipality’s priorities and to approve grant applications based on pressing needs.

“We need a process that addresses our priorities for Trillium grants. We can only apply for two in one year. We need to make sure there’s equal distribution across the municipality,” said Lemon.

Councillor Gerald Shortt wanted assurances that the Museum wouldn’t be going ahead with a construction project without grant money being secure.

Mayor Francis Richardson said the project could only go forward with the grant money.

“Projects that have already been started won’t receive funding,” said the Mayor.
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The Municipality of Meaford gets a better deal on its fuel prices than Grey County.

Mayor Francis Richardson reported that fact at Monday night’s regular meeting. Richardson said the public questions him all the time about Meaford’s lack of participation in the county’s joint purchasing initiative. Grey County often teams up with other lower tier municipalities to purchase a larger quantity of material such as fuel and gravel at cheaper prices.

In the past, Meaford has been accused of not taking advantage of the purchasing opportunities offered by the county.

Mayor Richardson said he looked into the matter and found out the reason why Meaford goes its own way.

“Our staff has negotiated a better fuel price than the county has and our price is good until 2009,” said the Mayor. “The county now wants to join with us,” he said with a laugh.

In other county business, Mayor Richardson reported that Grey County council is planning to implement a Code of Conduct for itself.

“They will police it themselves,” noted the Mayor.

New Meaford Deputy Mayor Mike Traynor will represent Meaford on the county’s Finance and Personnel committee and the county’s Planning committee. Traynor assured council and the public that he would bring back regular reports to the council table about county activities.